Coronavirus Africa summary: cases, deaths, news - 26 April
Coronavirus live Africa: latest Covid-19 news - Sunday 26 April
Africa Covid-19 update: 01:30 WAT on Monday 27 April (02:30 CEST)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 2,968,627 cases have been detected worldwide, with 206,402 deaths and 864,122 people now recovered.
Nigeria: 1,182 cases / 35 deaths
South Africa: 4,546 cases / 87 deaths
Ghana: 1,550 cases / 11 deaths
Kenya: 355 cases / 14 deaths
Join us over on our new daily live blog for all the latest coronavirus developments on Monday 27 April 2020.
We'll be taking a short break from our coronavirus coverage but we'll be back shortly with the morning team to keep you updated on all the latest developments in Africa and around the world regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
South Africa to seek $5bn in coronavirus aid
South Africa is seeking 95 billion rand ($4.99 billion) from multilateral lenders to help it fight the Covid-19 pandemic, a senior Treasury official said on Sunday.
Africa's most advanced economy is talking to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, New Development Bank of the BRICS and African Development Bank to source funding to contribute to a 500 billion rand rescue package aimed at cushioning the impact of the new coronavirus on businesses and poor households.
The IMF has said South Africa is entitled to apply for up to $4.2 billion in response to the crisis, and Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said on Friday the government could negotiate for a facility of "maybe between $55 and $60 million" at the World Bank.
Dondo Mogajane, director general of the National Treasury, said in an interview with eNCA television on Sunday that South Africa "will certainly go" for the IMF funding.
"The World Bank has said ...South Africa can access a loan of about $50 million, the New Development Bank did say long ago that they have set aside a billion dollars that we can access and again we will be accessing that," Mogajane said.
"All in all, all of these interventions, currently we are looking at 95 billion rand coming from these institutions only for Covid-related interventions."
WHO work in Africa ongoing
The World Health Organization is continuing to provide support to ports authority workers across the region during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Africa coronavirus cases pass 30,000
The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Africa has risen above 30,000, according to data from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Although extreme caution is recommended when it comes to hygiene, there is a low risk of coronavirus infection from food or its packaging.
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Coronavirus: the complete guide to the Covid-19 pandemic
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All the information you need to understand the coronavirus and ways to stay safe during the Covid-19 pandemic:
Total confirms 14 coronavirus cases at its Congo oil operations
French energy major Total said on Sunday that 14 workers including two of its staff have tested positive for the new coronavirus at its sites in Congo Republic, but output at the 190,000 barrels per day operations have not been affected.
Congo Republic reported 200 positive coronavirus cases and eight deaths since the first case on March 15.
Total said it activated its pandemic plan after the first case to ensure the continuity of its activity and was postponing non-routine operations, so as to limit the number of workers strictly limited to maintaining its production.
If North Korea faces succession, who might replace Kim Jong-un?
If North Korea faces succession, who might replace Kim Jong-un?
Despite rumours of his death, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was spotted this week at a resort town in the country, according to satellite images reviewed by a Washington-based North Korea monitoring project.
In pictures: South Africa
Members of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) share a light moment prior to a joint South African Police Services (SAPS) and SANDF patrol on day 31 of the national lockdown as a result of the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 April 2020.
The patrol was in the high density areas of Hillbrow and Yoeville where civilians are still breaking the strict lockdown rules. Those that where breaking the rules where arrested. South Africa's Stage 5 lockdown is due to end 30 April 2020 when stage 4 will be implemented. (Photo: EFE/EPA/KIM LUDBROOK)
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Pata Pata (meaning "touch, touch" in Xhosa), the popular song written by the late Grammy-award winning singer Miriam Makeba, has been re-released with new lyrics aimed at spread information about coronavirus to vulnerable communities.
The new version is sung by Beninese artist Angelique Kidjo and includes lyrics such as: "We need to keep our hands clean so no-Pata Pata. Don't touch your face, keep distance please and no-Pata Pata."
Coronavirus cases in Africa exceed 30,000
Africa has now registered 30,332 cases of coronavirus, with 1,375 deaths and 9,089 people recovered. There are currently 19,868 people active confrimed cases. South Africa has reported the highest number of cases at 4,361, followed by Egypt (4,319), Morocco (3,897), Algeria (3,256) and Cameroon (1,518).
In pictures (Nigeria): People bang pots and pans in protest over the scarcity of food amid the country's lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Abuja. (photo: SEGUN OSULA via REUTERS)
Health authorities in Ghana have adopted the use of drones to deliver test samples, another example of African ingenuity in the face of the coronavirus crisis...
Rwandan security forces accued of "raping and killing during lockdown"
Human Rights Watch has accused the security forces in Rwanda of killing, raping and arresting people since the coronavirus lockdown came into force.
The organisation claims that people accused of breaching lockdown rules have been detained in stadiums, with reports of women being raped by men in military uniforms.
The Rwandan military has launched an investigation into the alleged incidents and five suspects have already been arrested.
Nigeria's governors seek to make face masks compulsory in public
Nigerian state governors have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the compulsory use of face masks in public as confirmed coronavirus cases rise, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Saturday.
The 36 governors believe Buhari's approval is needed to ensure a uniform and coordinated policy at federal and state levels to tackle the virus, the letter from the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) said.
The presidency declined to comment on whether Buhari had received the letter or would act on the advice.
Two presidency sources said the request had taken the form of a suggestion to the president's task force on COVID-19. They said the task force would brief him on the suggestion on Sunday.
Nigeria reported 114 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday, bringing its total to 1,095, with 32 deaths. A total of 28 states have so far reported cases, and more than half are in the commercial hub, Lagos.
With 200 million people, Nigeria is Africa's most populous country. Some 20 million reside in Lagos.
The governors want Buhari's next set of coronavirus measures to incorporate a lockdown on flights and on interstate movement, restrictions on large gatherings and overnight curfews, as well as making the use of face masks in public compulsory.
The movement of food, beverages, medical and pharmaceuticals, petroleum supplies and agricultural products should be exempt, said the governors, who on Thursday agreed to ban interstate movement for two weeks.
Lagos and Ogun states, as well as the capital Abuja, are already under federally imposed lockdowns, while various states have instigated their own containment measures.
Africa Covid-19 update: 08:00 WAT Sunday 26 April (09:00 CEST)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University,2,898,703 cases have been detected worldwide, with 203,043 deaths and 822,264 people now recovered.
Nigeria: 1,182 cases / 35 deaths
South Africa: 4,361 cases / 86 deaths
Ghana: 1,279 cases / 10 deaths
Kenya: 343 cases / 14 deaths
Algeria allows businesses to reopen to ease coronavirus impact
Algeria has taken further steps to ease restrictions over the novel coronavirus by allowing several businesses to reopen "to reduce the economic and social impact of the health crisis" caused by the pandemic, the prime minister's office said on Saturday.
It said shops to be reopened including those for materials for building and public works, appliances, fabrics, jewelry, clothing and shoes, cosmetics and perfumes, home and office furniture, pastries and hairdressers in addition to urban transport by taxi.
The government on Thursday decided to ease confinement measures by shortening the curfew for some provinces but called on citizens to be "vigilant". That measure came hours before the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Friday.
Welcome to our live updates and breaking news live feed from Africa. It's Sunday 25 April and we will bring you news, comment, opinion and statistics throughout the day as things continue apace during the coronavirus epidemic.